SKU: 52723114591

Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures

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Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen TreasuresThe Wall Street Journal called him "a living legend." The London Times dubbed him "the most famous art detective in the world." In Priceless, Robert K. Wittman, the founder of the FBI's Art Crime Team, pulls back the curtain on his remarkable career for the first time, offering a real life international thriller to rival The Thomas Crown Affair. Rising from humble roots as the son of an antique dealer, Wittman built a twenty year career that was

The Wall Street Journal called him "a living legend." The London Times dubbed him "the most famous art detective in the world."

In Priceless, Robert K. Wittman, the founder of the FBI's Art Crime Team, pulls back the curtain on his remarkable career for the first time, offering a real-life international thriller to rival The Thomas Crown Affair.

Rising from humble roots as the son of an antique dealer, Wittman built a twenty-year career that was nothing short of extraordinary. He went undercover, usually unarmed, to catch art thieves, scammers, and black market traders in Paris and Philadelphia, Rio and Santa Fe, Miami and Madrid.

In this page-turning memoir, Wittman fascinates with the stories behind his recoveries of priceless art and antiquities: The golden armor of an ancient Peruvian warrior king. The Rodin sculpture that inspired the Impressionist movement. The headdress Geronimo wore at his final Pow-Wow. The rare Civil War battle flag carried into battle by one of the nation's first African-American regiments.

The breadth of Wittman's exploits is unmatched: He traveled the world to rescue paintings by Rockwell and Rembrandt, Pissarro, Monet and Picasso, often working undercover overseas at the whim of foreign governments. Closer to home, he recovered an original copy of the Bill of Rights and cracked the scam that rocked the PBS series Antiques Roadshow.

By the FBI's accounting, Wittman saved hundreds of millions of dollars worth of art and antiquities. He says the statistic isn't important. After all, who's to say what is worth more --a Rembrandt self-portrait or an American flag carried into battle? They're both priceless.

The art thieves and scammers Wittman caught run the gamut from rich to poor, smart to foolish, organized criminals to desperate loners. The smuggler who brought him a looted 6th-century treasure turned out to be a high-ranking diplomat. The appraiser who stole countless heirlooms from war heroes' descendants was a slick, aristocratic con man. The museum janitor who made off with locks of George Washington's hair just wanted to make a few extra bucks, figuring no one would miss what he'd filched.

In his final case, Wittman called on every bit of knowledge and experience in his arsenal to take on his greatest challenge: working undercover to track the vicious criminals behind what might be the most audacious art theft of all.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Broadway Books
Published: 06/07/2011
ISBN: 9780307461483
Pages: 324
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.12h x 5.14w x 0.76d
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SKU: 52723114591

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David Boyko
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Wholesome
Format: Hardcover
Love the message of this book and it's well written and illustrated. Feels specific in its point of view and experience but also very relatable! So beautiful as well.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024
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Lauren Ware
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Favorite toddler book
Format: Hardcover
Love love love this book. Bought it for my toddler and another for her friend as well. A good reminder to us parents that childhood memories are often made with messes.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2025
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C Philp
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Best Children's Book of 2024
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
My bibliophile kids (11 and 8) and I adore this book. The illustrations are delightfully inviting, the children are magically independent and loving, and the story encapsulates the gentle chaos of childhood in such a beautiful way. Highly recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2024
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Rebecca Wilson
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Great book!
Format: Hardcover
I hate when my kids make messes so this was the perfect book for me. It put things in perspective that messes aren't always a bad thing.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2024
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Ciara
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great read
Format: Paperback
This is such a cute book, and would make a great present for any kids 12 and above as well as adults. I got this book for my daughter, and read the whole thing as soo'n as I got it out of the package. Very cute and funny, but all information on book is good positive words and not any bad or ugly information we normally see in most books or movies in this day in age. Is you like comic reads this is one for you. After writing this review I will probably read it again.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2026

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